WIMAFRICA Advocates Financial Access For Women Leaders At Lagos Economic Summit

By Trending9ja Staff • November 10, 2026 • 1 min read

Women business leaders and executives from different parts of the globe gathered in Lagos on Monday for the inaugural African edition of the Women in Management economic summit. The two-day event, hosted by Women in Management Africa, focuses on expanding female access to funding, international markets, and key financial decision-making processes.

According to Punch, the gathering takes place between November 10 and 11, 2026, at the Federal Palace Hotel in Lagos under the theme, 'The Power Shift: Women Driving Africa's Global Economic Influence.' Speaking at a press briefing ahead of the conference, WIMAFRICA Chairperson Dr Ngozi Oyewole explained that the group aims to position female entrepreneurs in roles where they actively shape commerce and control resource allocation.

Dr Oyewole, who also serves as the Vice Chairman of the Industrial Training Fund, noted that female workers drive vital sectors such as agriculture, manufacturing, and general trade across the continent. However, she pointed out that systematic barriers continue to hinder their growth, including strict land ownership rules, cultural constraints, inadequate infrastructure, and limited awareness of procedures under the African Continental Free Trade Area.

The WIMAFRICA leader emphasized the importance of female-led enterprises transitioning beyond basic retail trade into production and large-scale investment. She urged banking institutions to introduce flexible financial services tailored to female manufacturers who struggle with working capital when executing purchase orders. Additionally, she called on public and private institutions to guarantee equitable procurement deals and execute timely contract payments for qualified female vendors.

Sources: Punch